Oshiomhole thanks Edo, INEC, as morecongratulations pour in

Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday expressed
his appreciation to the people of Edo State,
Nigeria's democracy stakeholders for making his
re-election possible.
Oshiomhole in a statement issued by his campaign
organization paid special tribute to the Oba of
Benin praising his fatherly guidance and conduct in
ensuring a peaceful election.
In the statement issued by Prince Kassim Afegbua,
Director of Media in the Oshiomhole Campaign
Organisation, OCO said: "We at the Campaign
Organisation wish to place on record our hearty
appreciation for the steady and committed roles
played by several individuals at different times in
the course of the electoral battle.
We are further buoyed by your sense of loyalty and
steadfastness which was uncommonly displayed to
sustain the electoral discourse in the build-up to
the election. We remain eternally grateful to the
leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria for the
overwhelming support it rendered throughout the
campaigns and the ultimate exercise of the
election.
We remain thankful to the Nigeria Labour Congress
for their show of solidarity for one of their own in
deepening the essential ingredients of democratic
practice. We want to appreciate in very special way,
our highly revered Omo N 'Oba for his exemplary
role in maintaining the sanctity of the Palace and
the unflinching support the Palace has been giving
to the government and people of Edo State thus
far."
The expression of thanks came as various
stakeholders continued to congratulate Oshiomhole
on his re-election.
Gov Adams Oshiomhole with his supporters
after he was declared winner of the Edo
governorship elections, Sunday, in Benin City,
Uduaghan, Ogboru hail poll
Among them was Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan
of Delta State in a congratulatory message to
Oshiomhole urged him to see the outcome of the
election as testament of the will of the people.
While encouraging him to be magnanimous in
victory, Governor Uduaghan in a statement in
Asaba, yesterday also praised the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) for proving
itself once again by conducting a free and fair
election devoid of violence.
But he however enjoined INEC "to look into some of
the issues raised by voters" and thanked the
people of Edo State for their peaceful conduct
during the election.
Governor Uduaghan said he was looking forward to
working with Oshiomhole as governor of a sister
state with common interests, advising him "to rally
those who contested with him to collectively
confront the dire needs of the people of Edo State".
Chief Great Ogboru, the Democratic Peoples Party,
candidate in the 2011 gubernatorial election in
Delta State on his part hailed the election as a
"reaffirmation of the human will to prevail over
falsehood" and praised the people of Edo State for
standing up in defence of their votes.
Ogboru in the statement said: "As a people of
common heritage, the good people of Delta State
stand united to salute the manifest courage of our
fellow Bendelites in Edo State. For defending your
democratic right to elect your own leaders, we are
proud of you. For your vigilance in ensuring that
your votes counted, you are a beacon of hope. Your
victory is ours too. Indeed, we salute your courage
and congratulate you for the victory."
"For our Comrade Governor Oshiomhole, we have
no doubt that his legacy has spoken loudly and
resulted in this good victory. It is our hope, which
we must very soon meet with granite will and
confidence, that indeed Delta will join Edo to
complete the freedom of our old Bendel State from
the claws of bad governance," Ogboru said.
Management of resources
Former Senator Francis Okpozo, in his own reaction
described Oshiomhole's victory as the end of god
fatherism in the politics of Edo state and as such
warned the "god fathers" in Edo state to limit
themselves in Edo State and leave Delta state
alone".
Okpozo who attributed Oshiomhole's victory to his
hard work and prudent management of resources
in the state, urged the governor-elect to do more
for the people of the state following the support he
received in the 18 Local Government Councils of
the state.
"Oshiomhole was rewarded because of his good
work, efficient and prudent management of the
resources that accrued to Edo state, since he
assumed office as a governor. What has happened
now is a testimony that those who call themselves
god fathers have been disgraced because they are
not the god fathers of the people but for a few
cabal. And it will be difficult now to show their
political relevance. And those god fathers in Edo
state should limit themselves to Edo state and
leave Delta state alone".
Cross Rivers ACN too
Chairman of ACN in Cross Rivers State, Mr. Hilliard
Eta, reacting to the outcome of the election urged
INEC to use the just concluded governorship
election in Edo State as the benchmark for the
2015 general elections.
Eta, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, in Calabar,
described the victory of Governor Adams
Oshiomwhole in Saturday's governorship election
in Edo State, as having a wider implication for
Nigeria's democracy.
He said, "It is beginning to show that Nigerians
appreciate good governance for which his party
and Oshiomhole represent." He noted that the Edo
election should be used as a benchmark of good
governance in the South-South.
Member of the House of Representatives
representing Owan West and East Federal
constituency, Mr Pally Iriase, yesterday, said
Oshiomhole's victory has unified the state.
Iriase who served as Campaign Coordinator for
Oshiomhole in Edo North senatorial district, said
that Oshiomhole's second coming in office would
be more successful, just as he urged other heads of
institutions to emulate the transparency of the
INEC chairman, Prof. Atthairu Jega for the good of
the nation.
"The victory has shown that Adams Oshiomhole
has united Edo state. And ethnicity has not played
a part in the election of Adams Oshiomhole. What
has played a part is politics of development and
what it means is that, that is the way to go for
Nigeria."
Edo SDMP guber candidate
Meanwhile, the candidate of the Social Democratic
Mega Party (SDMP), in last weekend's gubernatorial
election in Edo State, Mr. Frank Ukonga has
congratulated Oshiomhole on his victory describing
the election as comparable in conduct to the June
12, 1993 presidential election.
While commending all contestants in the
governorship position for their cooperation during
the election, he called on them to accept the
results in the spirit of sportsmanship.
"We commend the people of Edo state who are the
real champion that insisted on the concept of one,
one vote" he said,and insisted that without the
people, they will not be where the state is today.